Automatic tip-perforating machine



Filed June 18. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1 w Ji -2 1'7,

Nov. 4- 1,516,870

W. A. SMITH AUTOMATIC TIP PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 18 192} 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figtlll.

W. A. SMITH AUTOMATIC TIP PERFORATI NG MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 18 1921 Wvavmm. K ,4

Nov. 25, 1924.

1,516,870 W. A. SMITH AUTOMATIC TIP PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 18. 192.1 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. A. SMITH AUTOMATIC TIP PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 18. 1921 6 Sheefcs-Sheet 5 M QM W. A. SMITH AUTOMATIC TIP PERFORATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 18. 1921 Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD A. SMITH, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC TIP-PERFORATING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Tip-Perforating Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings inclicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to mechanism for treating blanks and is herein shown as embodied in a machine for feeding and perforating shoe tips.

It is usual in perforating shoe tips to place the latter by hand with the edges to be perforated, which lie in the completed shoe across the toe near the tip seam, against a gage located adjacent to the line of punches in a perforating machine. This is a hand operation requiring the handling of all the tips and their successive presentation against the gage so that the operation is relatively slow and uneconomical.

WVith a view to eliminating this manual operation it is an object of the invention to provide improved mechanism for quickly and correctly presenting shoe tips or other blanks to punches or other operating mechanism without any attention on the part of. the operator.

When the blanks to be treated are shoe tips, all sizes of which for a particular manufacturer usually have the same radius of curvature, advantage is taken of this constancy to locate the tips for punching. In the illustrated construction, the tips are removed by suction mechanism from a stack and allowed to drop by gravity against a pair of spaced locating lugs movable with a carrier into a predetermined relation to a turret. The lugs engage the curved edge of the work and are arranged on a linenormal to a radius of the turret. A line of punches is correspondingly curved and arranged on the other side of the turret. Since the edges of all sizes of tips are 10- ca'ted by the lugs at the same predetermined distance from the axis of the turret, they will, when carried to the perforating mechanism, project the same distance beyond the line of operation of the punch and hence the perforations will be placed at the same distance from the edge of each tip.

Other features of the invention relate to improved means for separating the blanks one by one from. a stack or other source of supply. As shown, on edge and a suction device is pivotally mounted adjacent the endmost blank. By moving the pivotal mounting away from the blank when suction is applied, a portion of the blank is bent away from the next one to allow a sliding separator to complete their disengagement.

Althoughthe invention is shown and described with reference to the perforating of shoe tips, it should be understood that in many aspects it is not limited to this operation or to embodiment in the illustrated mechanism.

Referring to the drawings,

Figs. 1 and 1 form a side elevation of the machine as a whole with parts broken away, and Figs. 2 and 2 a top plan View;

Fig. 3 is a right-hand end elevation with some parts removed and with a portion of the frame in section;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing the mechanism for causing intermittent rotation of the turret;

Fig. 5 a detail view showing the actuating mechanism for the suction device;

Fig. 6 a detail view showing the mechanism for intermittently rotating the carrier;

Fig. 7 a detail view showing the mechanism for actuating the clamping members on the carrier;

Fig. 8 a detail view of a portion of the carrier.

Referring first to Figs. 1 2 and 3, the tips are placed with their curved edges to be perforated or otherwise treated against the correspondingly curved loottom of a stack or magazine 20 supported on upright brackets 22 on the main frame. To adapt the stack or magazine for tips of different sizes, it is provided with angularly ad'ustable sides 24 secured at their rear en s to vertical rock shafts 26 having at their lower ends arms 28 with inter-engaging toothed sectors to cause a simultaneous movement. One of the sides 24 has a projecting car 30 slotted for the reception of a clamping screw 32. which is threaded in a lug on the bracket 22. For pushing the tips toward the delivery end of the stack, a follower 36 engages the last tip and is the blanks are stacked pulled forwardly by cables 38 extending around the pulleys 40 and connected to a spring roller 42 beneath the stack.

From the magazine, the tips are taken one by one and placed on a rotary carrier. The endmost tip normally bears lightly against a blade or separator 50 in the form of a grating having a shank 52 attached to a slide block 54 which slides vertically in guideways 56 carried by a plate 58 arched over the delivery end of the stack. To actuate the blade of the separator, the slide block 54 is connected by a link 59 Fig. 3, with one arm 60 of a lever having its hub pivoted to the bracket 62 and its other arm 64 extending outwardly and connected by a link 66 with a lever 68. The lever 68 is pivoted to the framework at 70 and is oscillated by a strap 72 and an eccentric 74 on a counter shaft 7 6 extending along one side of the framework.

hen the blade or separator is raised a suction device is moved against the endmost tip of the stack. This suction device 80, Fig. 1 is carried on the lower end of a short lever 82 pivoted to a swinging arm 84 which formed as a yoke having an axis at the shaft 88 and made more rigid by a depending yoke connection 91. The suction device 80 is pressed toward the cndmost tip by a spring 86 joining the end of the lever 82 and the end of the arm 84. lVhen suction v has been applied, the upper part of the endmost blank is bent outwardly and the separator 50 descends to complete the separation of this tip from? the next one. The arm 84 is oscillated by a short integral arm 90 connected by a link 92 with a rocking arm 94 sleeved on a cross shaft 96 which is supported in bearings on the main frame. The arm 94 has a cam. roller 98 riding in a cam groove 100 on the cam member 101 secured to the cam shaft 102 which is driven from the counter shaft 76, Fig. 2 by bevel gears 104.

To create the suction in the suction member 80 the latter is connected by a flexible pipe 106 with a cylinder 108 (see Figs. 3 and 5) having a piston 110 secured to a rod 112 and actuated in one direct-ion by a spring 114 interposed between the cylinder head and a collar on the rod. The rod 112 is in line with a rod 120pivotally connected to an arm 116 which. rocks on a pivot 118 and with an arm 122 ointed to a hub 124 sleeved on the shaft 96. Another arm 126 integral with the hub extends forwardly parallel to the arm 122 and is provided near the end with a roller 128 riding in a cam groove 130 of the cam member 132 on the cam shaft. The form of the cam groove is such that the rod 120 is lowered very quickly, thus allowing free action of the spring 114. Under-the action of this spring the piston 110 will descend through whatever part of its stroke is needed to producethe required suction. In case of slight leakage during the support of the tip by the suction device, the tendency of the spring 114 will be to offset this leakage by continuing'the movement of the piston 110 to'maintain the required suction.

Directly beneath the delivery end of the stack, in a position to receive the tips when released by the suction apparatus and transfer them to the rest of the machine, is a tip locating and presenting carrier 140 in the form of a spider having a plurality of yoke shaped arms radiating from a hub. Each arm has a pair of spaced lugs or projections 142 which are intendedto engage the curved edges of the tips when the latter are dropped from the stack. These lugs are inclined somewhat with reference to the radiating arms as shown in Fig. 7 in order to direct the edges of the tips against the junction of the lugs with the arms of the carrier. The carrier 140 is secured to a rock shaft 88, the latter being carried in a yoke composed of spaced arms 144 rockable on the cam shaft 1.02 and connected by a web 146. hen a tip is dropped on the locating lugs 142 of the carrier 140, it is carried to a horizontal position and the lugs locate the tip in a predetermined position with relation to the axis of the turret to be referred to. For adjusting the locating lugs and the carrier toward or from the turret to vary the relation of the paths of movement of the carrier and turret so as to cause the perforations to be placed on the tips at the desired distances from the edges, the yoke arms 144 may be swung about an axis at the cam shaft 102. This is accom plished by a screw shaft 148 (see Fig. 2 joined to one of the yoke arms 144 and threaded in a lug 150 on the frame and rotated by a hand wheel 152 extending Within the reach of the operator.

For securing the tips to the receiving carrier 140, the latter has a plurality of clamping members or grippers 154, see Fig. 7, pivoted at 156 to the carrier and each having a short arm 158 with a. roller at the end to run in a cam. groove 160 on the cam member 162 which is loose on the rock shaft 88. The cam groove is so formed as to close each clamping member after the ceived by the locating lugs and also maintains it closed as the carrier rotates, the clamping member being subsequently released to allow the tip to be transferred to a turret. The cam member 162 is oscillated by a link 164 joined to an arm 166 sleeved on the shaft 96; An extension 168 of the arm has a roller 170 riding in a cam groove 172 in one side of the cam member 101 previously referred to.

The carrier 140 is rotated intermittently to allow time for the clamping members to operate between the intervals of movement.

tip is re- Referring to; Figs. 3 and 6, there is shown a disk 17 4 secured to one end of the rock shaft 88 and having a plurality of recesses 176 with which engages a spring-pressed pawl 178 vcarried on an angle lever 180 hung loosely on the rock shaft 88. The lever 180 is oscillated by a rod 182 and an eccentric 184 on the cam. shaft. To look the disk between the intervals of movement and to prevent over-feeding of the carrier, the disk 174 has aplurality of depressions 186 with which engages the locking member 188 on a. lever pivoted at 190 on the yoke 144. Another arm 192 of the lever has at its end a roller 194 running on a peripheral cam surface 196 of the cam 132 previously referred to.

I To take the located tips from'the carrier 140 when released by the clamp members 154 and present them to the perforating mechanism, there is mounted adjacent to the carrier an intermittently rotatable delivering carrier or turret 200 fixed to. a vertical shaft 202v stepped in theframework. Radiating from the carrier or turret 200 are a plurality of projecting arms 204 each forming one member of a clamp, each movable clamping member 206 being pivoted at 208 to the turret and having anarm 210 with a roller 212 at the end riding in a groove in the oscillating cam 214. To adapt the clamping members for tips of different thicknesses, the upper clamping members 206 may be adjusted by means of adjusting screws 218 extending through lugs 216 in the arms 210. The formation and movement of the cam 214 are such that, as the turret rotates, theclamping members 206 are maintained either open or closed until the carrier or turret stops. As each of the clamping members 206 approaches the carrier 140, it is maintained in an open position until it overlies the tip projecting from the carrer 140. Then, during the time that the turret is stopped, the oscillation of cam 214 lowers the member 206 against the corresponding arm 204 to seize the tip. The cam 214 is sleeved upon the vertical shaft 202 and is oscillated by a link 220 joined to a crank disk 222 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 224 driven from the counter shaft 76 and supported in hearings in the frame. i 1 p The carrier or turret 200 is rotated intermittently from the vertical shaft 224 which,

I arm 242, which forms a part of the lever,

carries a spring-pressed and pivoted pawl 244 whichis adapted for engagement with a plurality of recesses 246 formed in the periphery of a disk 248 fixed near the lower end of the shaft 202. Oscillation of the sector gear causes the pawl to enter one of the recesses to rotate the turret. T0 withdraw the pawl from the recess at the end of its stroke, there is pivoted at 250 on the framework a lever 251 having a shield 252 lying in the path of a. pin 254 extending downwardly from the pawl. As the pawl starts its backward movement, the pin 254 rides up on the shield 252 and so lifts the pawl from the recess. Upon the extreme end of the arm 242, there is a downwardly extending pin 256 which engages a nose 258 on the lever 251 when the pawl is at the end of its stroke. This provides a positive means to insure that the shield shall be brought back into the path of the pin 254 after it has been moved by the pin in the forward movement of the latter.

For locking the carrier or turret 200 after each intermittent movement and to prevent overrunning, a disk 260 is fixed to the shaft 202 above the sector gear and is provided with notches 261 in which engages the arm 262 of a bell crank pivoted at 264 to the frame, the other arm 266 of the bell crank having a roller 268 running on a peripheral cam surface 270 of the disk 230. Referring to Fig. 2*, motion is transmitted from the counter shaft 7 6 to the vertical shaft 224 by a spiral gear 276 on the former shaft engaging a corresponding spiral gear 27 8 fixed to the shaft 224, and motion is transmitted to the counter shaft 7 6 from a power shaft 284 through beveled gears 280 and 282.

Referring to Fig. 1 the operating mechanism for treating the tips, herein exemplified as a perforating machine, comprises a cam 286 having a groove 288 in which runs a roller 290 on a link 292 pivoted at one end to a swinging lever 294 and at the other end to toggle arms 300 and 302. The arm 302 is pivoted to an arm 304 pivoted at 306 on the framework and the free end of this latter arm carries a punch plate 308 and the punches. Above the punches is a normally fixed punch block 310 over which there is fed, preferably, a paper backin strip, not shown. To adjust the puncn block two wedges 312 are mounted to slide between the punch block and the frame and they are moved by racks 314 engaged by pinions 318 on a cross shaft 316. The wedges are supported for movement by screws 320 extending through slots in the framework and the punch block 310 is secured against lateral movement by hand screws 322.

In operation, with the tips standing on edge in the stack or magazine 20. the blade or separator 50 is raised and the suction device brought against the endmost tip. Upon applying the suction and swinging the arm 84: away from the magazine, the lever 82 swings on its pivot and the suction causes the upper halfof the tip to be bent over so that the blade 50 can descend between it and th next tip to complete the separation. The arm 84: carries the tip to a position directly above one of the arms of the carrier 1 10 whereupon the suction releases the tip, allowing it to drop into position upon the spaced lugs 1 12. Actuation of one of the clamping members 154 secures the tip to an arm of the carrier and then rotation of the carrier places the tip in a horizontal position projecting into the path of the clamping members on the turret. The turret, as it approaches the position shown in Fig. 1", carries the lower clamp member 204 below the tip and the upper clamp member 206, WhlCll at this time is raised, is carried over the upper side of the tip. The upper clamping member 206 is then depressed by the cam 214 to grip the tip and, at about the same time, the clamping member 15 1 of the carrier 140 releases the tip. This transfers the tip from the carrier to the turret and the latter rotates preferably through 180 (in two steps) to present the tip to the operating mechanism. A further rotation (of 90 for example) releases the tip through the operation of the cam 214-. lVhile the first tip is reaching the releasing station, a second tip has been received by the turret and presented to the perforating mechanism, a third tip has been carried around to a station 90 from the transferring carrier and a fourth tip has just been gripped by the clamping members in readiness to be carried through a similar cycle of movements. It should be noted that the carrier 140 and its spaced positioning lugs 142 will locate tips: of all sizes having a single radius of curvature with the edges to be treated at a predetermined distance from the axis of the turret. Since any part of the arcshaped edge of a tip may be utilized to position the whole are with respect to the lugs, no great nicety of transverse location is needed when the tip is dropped against the lugs. If, for instance, the tip should move about its center of curvature, the per forations on. one side of the tip might not quite reach the edge and some punches beyond the other side of the tip might do no work. This is of no consequence since the sides of the tips possess surplus material which is turned under, in the lasting operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many features of the invention are applicable to machines operating on the blanks either at or near their edges and that the claims are not to be construed as limited to mechanism for either one or the other operation unless it is apparent from the context that it was intended to be limited.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, perforating mechanism, a rotary carrier having means to hold tips in position to be perforated, and mechanism for feeding to the carrier tips of different sizes and locating the edges to be perforated at a constant distance from the axis of the carrier, whereby the perforations are placed on the work at a constant distance from the edges thereof.

2. In a machine of the class described, mechanism for operating on the edges of blanks, a rotary carrier for carrying the blanks to the operating mechanism, and feeding mechanism constructed and arranged to place various blanks on the carrier with the edges to be treated in the same relation with respect to the axis of the carrier.

3. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a movable carrier for presenting the work to the operating mechanism, and a rotary transferring member arranged to place the work to be treated on the carrier with the edge of the work projecting a fixed distance from the latter.

4. In a tippunching machine, tip locating and presenting means, and a rotary turret for carrying the tip from the tip locating means to the punch, said locating means comprising spaced lugs to engage the edge of the tip and lying on a line perpendicular to a radius of the turret.

5. In a machine for opera-ting on blanks, a pair of carriers mounted to rotate adjacent one another, clamping members mounted on the carriers, means for rotating one carrier to present the blanks in the path of travel of the other carrier, and means to operate the clamping members for transferring the blanks from one carrier to the other. 7

6. In a. machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, a pair of carriers mounted to rotate on axes at an angle to each other, means for rotating one carrier to po-- sition the blanks in the path of travel of the other carrier, clamps for transferring the blanks from one carrier to the other, and means for rotating the other carrier to present the blanks to the operating mechanism.

7 In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, a blank locating" carrier, a second carrier to receive the blanks from the first carrier, means for rotating the first carrier to carry the blanks'to the second carrier, means for transferring theblanks to the second carrier, and means for rotating the second carrier to present the blanks to the operating mechanism.

8. In amachine for treating lanks, operating mechanism, a pair of carriers mounted to rotate on axes at an angle to each other, clamping members mounted on each carrier and movable to open and closed positions, means for rotating one-carrier to present the blanks in the path of travel of the other carrier, and means for opening the clamping members on one carrier and closing them on the other to transfer the blanks from one carrier to the other.

9. In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, a rotary carrier, means for rotating the carrier intermittently, a plurality of clamping members for securing the blanks to the carrier, a cam for actuating the clamping members, and means for mbving the cam to close one of the clamping members and open another after each intermittent movement of the carrier.

10. In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, an intermittently rotat-able turret "for presenting the blanks to the operating mechanism, a movable clamping member for securing the blanks to the turret, and a movable cam for actuating the clamping member when the turret is stopped.

11. In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, an intermittently rotatable turret for presenting the blanks to the operating mechanism, a pair of clamping members projecting from the turret, a rotatable carrier for presenting the blanks between the paths of travel of the clamping members, and means for actuating one of the clamping members to clamp the blanks When the carrier is stationary and the clamping members are on opposite sides of the blanks.

12. In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, an intermittently rotatable turret for carrying the Work to the operating mechanism, clamping members projecting from the turret, a rotatable carrier for feeding the Work into the plane of the clamping members during the movement of the turret, and means for actuating the clamping members When the turret is stationary to grip the Work.

13. In a machine for treating blanks, operating mechanism, an intermittently rotatable turret for carrying the Work to the operating mechanism, movable clamping members projecting from the turret, means "for feeding the Work transversely between the movable clamping members into the plane of theturret, and means for operating the clamping members to clamp the Work against the turret when the clamping members pass over the Work.

14. In a machine for treating the edges 0t blanks, operating mechanism, means for separating the blanks one by one from a stack, a. rotary carrier having means to receive the blanks from the separating means, a turret, means for rotating the carrier intermittently to present the blanks with the edges to be treated at a constant distance from the aXis of the turret, and means for rotating the turret to carry the blanks to the opera-ting mechanism.

15. In a machine of the class described, means for separating blanks one by one from a stack, a rotary carrier mounted below the separating means to receive the blanks by gravity, a turret, means for rotating the carrier intermittently to present the blanks one by one to the turret, and means for rotating the turret intermittently to carry the blanks one by one to an operating mechanism.

16. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, means for separating blanks one by one from a stack, a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms to locate the blanks, means for rotating the carrier intermittently, a clamping member associated with each arm, a movable cam op erable to close one clamping member and open another after each intermittent movement of the carrier, and means for taking the blanks when released and presenting them to the operating mechanism.

17. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, means for separating blanks one by one from a stack, a rotatable carrier having a plurality of arms to locate the blanks, means for rotating the carrier intermittently. a clamping member associated with each arm, a movable cam for actuating a clamping member after each intermittent movement of the crrier, a second carrier having a plurality of arms, a clamping member associated with each arm, means for actuating transfer a blank from the first carrier'to the second one, and means for intermittently rotating the second carrier to carry the blank to the operating mechanism.

18. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, means for separating blanks one by one from a stack, a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms to receive the blanks, means for clamping the blanks to the arms, a turret, means for rotatingthe carrier intermittently to present the blanks to the turret, means for tin-clamping the blanks, and means for rotating the turret to carry the blanks to the operating mechanism.

19. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a carrier, a member having means for reciving blanks and locat the edges to be treated in a predetermined position With respect to the carrier, means for varying the position of the memclamping member to I 110 her to change the position of the locating means to control the distance of the operating treatment from the edges of the blanks, and means for actuating the carrier to carry the blanks from the located pos1- tion to the operating mechanism.

20. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a rotary turret for carrying blanks to the operating mechanism, mechanism for placing the blanks on the rotary turret with the edges of the blanks projecting a predetermined distance from the latter, and means for varying the position of the mechanism to change the distance which the blanks project from the rotary turret and thereby control the distance of the operating treatment from the edges of the work.

21. In a machine for operating on approximately flat blanks near their edges, operating mechanism, mechanism for feeding the blanks to the operating mechanism, and locating means for engaging the edges of the blanks constructed and arranged to locate said edges as the blanks are dropped thereon and todetermine their position on the feeding means.

22. In a machine for operating on blanks, operating mechanism, blank locating mechanism. comprising an arm and means inclined with respect to the arm to engage the edge of a blank and cause it to lie fiat against said arm, and means for feeding the blanks by gravity to said means.

23. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a member having means for receiving blanks and locating their edges to be treated in a predetermined position, and means for presenting the blanks to the operating mechanism in a relation .determined by the locating means.

'24:. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a rotatable member having spaced locating lugs arranged to receive blanks and carry their edges to be treated to a predetermined position, and means for carrying the' blanks from the latter position to the operating mechanism in the arc of a circle.

25. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a magazine for holdng a plurality of blanks, means for removing the blanks one by one from the magazine, a rotatable member having means for receiving the blanks and locating their edges to be treated in a predetermined position, and means for presenting the blanks to the operating mechanism in a position determined by the locating means.

26. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a magazine for bold ing a plurality of blanks, means for removing the blanks one by one from the magazine, a member for receiving the blanks and locating the edges to be treated in a predetermined position, and a turret for carrying the blanks to the operating mechanism without altering. the relation of the located blanks to the turret.

27. In a machine ofthe class described, operating mechanism, a magazine for holding a plurality of blanks, means for removing the blanks one by one from the magazine, a carrier having positioning lugs arranged to locate the edges ofthe blanks to be treated, a turret, means for rotating the carrier to present the located blanks to the turret, and means for rota-ting the turret to carry the blanks to the operating mechanism in the arc of a circle.

28. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks standing on edge, means for moving a portion of the endmost blank away from the next blank, and a separator mounted to move between the blanks to complete their separation. I

29. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks standing on edge, a suction device for drawing a portion of the endmost blank away from the next one, and a separator mounted to slide between the blanks to complete their separation.

30. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks, a suction device pivotally mounted to bear against the endmost blank, and means for moving the pivotal mounting away from the magazine to bend one part of the endmost blank away from the next blank.

31. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks, a suction device pivotally mounted to bear against the endmost blank, means for moving the pivotal mounting away from the magazine to cause the suction device to swing on its pivotal mounting and bend the endmost blank away from the next one, and a separator for completely separating the two blanks.

32. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks, a swinging arm, suction device pivotally carried by the arm for pulling an edge of the endmost blank away from the next one, and a separator for completely separating the two blanks.

33. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks, an arm, a suction device pivotally carried by the arm, av spring connecting the arm and the suction device to hold the latter against the endmost blank, and means for swinging the arm away from the magazine to cause the suction device to bend the endmost blank away from the next one;

84. In a machine for treating blanks, a stack for holding a plurality of blanks, means for moving the blanks forwardly in the stack, a device for engaging the endmost blank and taking it from the stack, and a blade mounted to slide across the face of the next blank to retain the remaining blanks in position.

35. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a carrier movable in a fixed path With respect to the operating mechanism, movable means for receiving blanks and delivering them to said carrier, and means for varying the path of movement of said movable means to control the positioning of the blanks with respect to the operating mechansim.

36. In a machine of the class described, operating means, a movable Work presenting carrier arranged to present blanks to said operating means, a movable Work transferring carrier, and means for varying the relation of the paths of movement of said carriers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLARD A. SMITH. 

